Continued fighting between Sri Lankan government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), has displaced nearly 18,000 people in the conflict-ridden north of the country since the start of the year.
The Sri Lankan army is using heavy weaponry to shell areas where civilians are present, despite these being declared so-called "safe areas". The LTTE have been accused of preventing people from fleeing the conflict zone.
Since the beginning of January, over 100 civilians have been killed in the violence, while nearly 18,000 have managed to escape the Vanni region.
They are being held in government-run camps in districts bordering the conflict zone where their freedom of movement is restricted despite the fact they are Sri Lankan citizens.
On Thursday 29th January, a United Nations-ICRC convoy was allowed to carry out 266 seriously wounded people from the Vanni, however whilst the government has declared safe passage for civilians it has not committed to a ceasefire. The LTTE has stated that only an internationally-brokered conflict will end the conflict.
Key needs are food (including nutritional support for lactating women), drinking water, clothes and sanitation. Health and medical facilities are also needed, along with psycho-social care.. Additional needs are for shelter and protection (particularly for women) in camps.
ActionAid Response
ActionAid has ongoing work in 8 Divisional Secretariat (DS) divisions of Trincomalee and Batticaloa in the east of the country, where we are implementing projects in conjunction with local partners.
In response to the current intensified fighting, ActionAid has received government approval to work with displaced people in the Kuchavelli and Mutur areas of Trincomalee. To date we have reached over 5,00 people with items such as mats, mosquito nets, clothes, mugs, kerosene cookers, as well as milk and powdered food for children.
We are also in the process of training volunteers on psychosocial care and support initiatives, and providing educational support to children whose schooling has been disrupted by the fighting.
